No Room

No Room

by Yeny Maria Rowley

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”

(Luke 2:7, NKJV).

We all have varied backgrounds, making us unique and distinctive. I hail from Mexico, where I was born and raised. After finishing college, I had the opportunity to work in my career field for a year before I moved. Then it was God’s plan for me to travel to England to study English. I later traveled to countries in Europe, Asia and South America. I eventually settled in the United States. In each country I felt foreign because of my looks, my accent, my way of thinking, my diet, and so on.

Now, when I visit my homeland, I feel out of place. My friends and family members have changed and so have I. Mexico no longer feels like home. Yet, in America I long for my roots because I don’t feel American either. It’s as if neither place has room for me.

Similarly, as writers, we may think there’s no room for our ideas, genres, or styles. Receiving news of a rejection or discovering there’s no room for our books at a bookstore, contributes to this thinking. The enemy also wants our focus on the lack of room rendering us incapable of experiencing everything that is rightfully ours.

Nevertheless, God says that we do not belong to this world even though we live in it. Feeling like there’s no room for our writing is unpleasant. However, it serves to discourage us from complacency. Our unfit state in this world makes us ready to inhabit the room Jesus is preparing for us in our Father’s house (John 14:2).

The scripture in Luke 2:7 tells us there was no room for Mary and Joseph at the inn. But Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a nearby manger. In like manner, we’re capable of giving birth to our writing talent even when it seems there is no room for our gift. We can trust God to use our writing to reach either one soul at a small group, or the masses at a bookstore.

Thank you, Father, for your Word. Despite my feelings of displacement, your plans for me are written in your Book of Life. For now, you Lord, have made room for me, and I shall be fruitful in the land (Genesis 26:22).  I chose to embrace Your perfect will for my life as I obediently give birth to my writing each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.